Mar 4 2012

Nature Dreams Journal – Completed Design

One more swatch needed to get itself out of the sewing area before I start another project from scratch. So the turquoise wool swatch was nabbed and sewn up. This is knitted in Brown Sheep wool in absolutely the best tone of blue/green around. Here is the process this morning (after gathering all the materials together).

Materials laid out, cut and assembly started (it morphed as it went along - believe me)

Swatch laid upside down to sew to the length of cotton fabric - to be flipped over and have a neat spine at the center.

Swatch flipped over and stitched to base fabric - don't want any movement going on here.

Pockets were put in, one on the right to hold a journal, notebook or sketch pad. And one on the left bottom to hold pens, pencils, art items - or a candy bar.

Not a good project to put my embroidered TygerLily name on, so the suede logo was the best match. See the clips at the top? Those are holding the turning area together while the super magnificent German glue sets. I placed two heavy duty cardboard pieces into the front and back flaps of the cover - helps with the shaping and writing stability.

Look what was hanging on my supply pegboard!!!! Have to use it somehow.

Finale #1

Finale #2

Finale #3 - Final Bow

This project used some high quality yarns and some awesome 100% cotton fabrics and thread. There is no way to tell you the hours it took, or it’s real value. THAT I will have to think about. I think it would make a terrific Mother’s Day Gift – hey, moms still need to write their hopes and dreams down! What woman doesn’t? It would make a great gratitude journal, too – and keep those colors pencils and pens in the front cover to make it a joyful thing. Think on that one – would love to hear feedback.

I have to admit, it felt incredibly good to get my fingers going on something I truly adore this morning. As mentioned before, this was one rough week on many levels and I was emotionally and mentally fatigued. So glad to have gotten a chance to take the time and enjoy the gifts that God has given me. And thank you for letting me share.

Jan 30 2012

Father of the Bride

It’s funny how sometimes I think of projects I’ve done, and know exactly what was on TV or what was happening in the house when it was getting worked on. Well, last night will be no different when it comes to having a memory while knitting.

After spending the afternoon downstairs, ironing and knitting, Bill calls down to me and says “Father of the Bride” is on. He wanted me to come upstairs and watch it with him. OK, no problem, I adore that old movie. He, on the other hand, had never seen it. So game on, or once the old gal had one up on him as I’ve seen it a gazillion times.

The Aftermath.......

My dear one has walked both our daughters down the aisle, and he gets a chance to do it one more time this coming summer – and this movie truly moved him. He could understand every line and emotion Spencer Tracy was going through – even the nightmare of him trying to walk his daughter down the aisle. With all the conversation we enjoyed as we both sat at the dining room table discussing this movie, I will never forget what item I was working on:

Brown Sheep Limeade Tote

This project has sat for over 2 months without a stitch more done, but what a great way to get it back on the working table.

What memories are you making for yourself? Sometimes those are the biggest blessings of all. Happy crafting!

Oct 28 2011

3-1/2 Hr Vacation And Pretzel Logic

OK, so I am taking 3-1/2 hours of my vacation time this morning to regroup and get back on track.

1. October is about over – forgot to get tags for the car, so THAT line will be uber pleasant this morning. But that’s my own fault.

2. Funny how basic items DON’T make it on the shopping list until they’re gone! Yep, Sam’s Club here I come. Blechhh

3. DID get the fabrics ordered for two commissioned orders for kids art books this morning. Should be super cute. And while I was on Fabric.com I found this FANTASTIC corduroy fabric which is going to line one of the Prairie Bags coming up….

Over-The-Top Orange Corduroy

…….and this beauty – embroidered corduroy! Think I’m in love with this one.

Brown Embroidered Corduroy

And there’s still a color of Brown Sheep Company’s Burly Spun yarn that’s not worked up into a bag yet, but THIS was the perfect find for the lining to the future handbag….

Prairie Handbag #? corduroy lining CAN WE ALL SAY WOW!!!!

Aren’t those fabrics absolutely wonderful? They are all ordered and I even was able to use a little coupon on my cord fabrics – YIPEEEEE!! I’ll take it!

After my mini-vacation this morning (ha) I hope to get the Barbed Wire Cable Handbag completely off the needles, get the fun little adornments attached that I found yesterday in my “Inspiration In A Bag” and get that baby in the machine to be felted – YET TODAY! :) There is a closure treatment that I want to test on this bag, hopefully to include a little bling, a little leather, some surprises. Have to keep testing to find the absolute best way.

And look what I found when I was digging through some things – the Pretzel Logic Handbag that I never lined. It was done back in 2008, but then things started falling apart and we had to move. So this baby needs to get lined and in the shop soon. It’s rather a bizarre looking kind of thing, isn’t it.

Pretzel Logic Handbag

And I realized I didn’t actually save the Cherry Blossom Handbag photo yesterday to the computer. That explains a lot. But here it is in a messy heap. This needs to get completed today also if possible. Well, maybe this weekend. :)

Cherry Blossom Handbag

OK, my mini vaca starts in a half hour. So here we go! Let’s tackle the day and have a little fun while we do it, okay?

Love to see you all stopping by – you make my day. :)

Oct 22 2011

Firebush Cable Handbag – Complete and Listed

As I am still waiting on an okay from a possible buyer on another item, I decided to tackle the finishing touches to the Firebush Cable Handbag. It’s listed over on Etsy now, after taking it over to the abandoned farmland to take its picture once or twice. So here she is, in all her red and cabled glory………

Firebush Handbag

Smiling Pretty

Now I’m off to see what kind of trouble I can get into down in the sewing room. I may have to start cutting into Bill’s sweater and see what kind of purse I can derive out of it. :)

Happy creating!

Oct 13 2011

Euonymus Alatus Sacculus (or) Burning Bush Handbag

This project has been SO much fun to work on and it’s just about to the point where the felting process can take place this coming weekend. It is named after one of my favorite shrubs that grow prolifically here in Nebraska and adorn many homes, acreages and farms.

Euonymus Alatus (Burning Bush) Sacculus (Handbag)

Even our own University of Nebraska Extension: Backyard Farmer has something to say about this beautiful bush – yes, it’s just THAT beautiful. Maybe you have one in your own landscaping you enjoy. We don’t have any of these at our duplex, but we sure enjoy looking at the homes around us that do!

Burning Bush Shrub

And hence, the inspiration for the fifth handbag in the Prairie Cable Handbag Series:

Burning Bush Cable Handbag - Pre-felting status

The bag is being done in Nebraska’s own Brown Sheep Company’s Lanaloft 100% wool bulky yarn on size 11US needles throughout. There will be some fun surprises that will help make this design even more fun than it already is. So please keep watching and hopefully by this Sunday there will be a newly completed TygerLily bag in the shop.

Thank you all checking in and just look around you! What is inspiring you today? Write it down, get it planned, and get it going!

Oct 5 2011

A Royal Felting

I know today is Wednesday and I’m usually working. But I was scheduled a bit differently this week and get to work Saturday. So today is play time.

Season’s Royal Messenger Bag came off the needles completely, and with only about 3 feet of yarn left out of three hanks of Brown Sheep Burly Spun. This is what it looked like before it hit the showers…….

Pre-felting

And an up close and personal picture of the diamond style cabling on the front flap…..

Diamond Cables

The close up actually shows the real color of this bag much better than some other shots taken. I was VERY happy with the way the flap came together. But then, as we all know, there’s no time like the present. So off to the showers with this guy and here he is sitting out on the deck getting his ‘dry’ on. It was tough finding a box to help form it, but after doing some thinking and realizing I wanted this big enough to hold a laptop, I went in search of computer boxes around the house. So he is sitting and taking in some gorgeous fall weather getting prepped for some serious oriental brocade to be the lining. Along with some batting of course. This has to be a very protective messenger bag.

Back Shot - SUPER handle!!

Front Flap View with Button Loop

He should be good and dry by Sunday so we can get it all finished and hopefully get over to the abandoned farm for some photos.

One more thing…. A little more of Monday’s Sneak Peek……

Lanaloft 100% Wool

This is a whole lot bigger than it looks, and should end up being a medium size bag. This one’s oval handles are waiting by the sewing machine. But I ran out of Lanaloft quicker than anticipated, so there’s another hank coming in from Woobee’s.

So there is technically NO purses that are workable on the needles. So I guess that means I’d better get to it. There’s a whole afternoon left to get something started.

Oct 3 2011

Monday Teaser

As I was taking a break from working on Season’s Royal Messenger Bag yesterday…. getting some ice water with lemon, taking the dog outside…….. sitting looking around at what’s out our back door….. something came to mind. Coming in, I told Bill the idea for the next bag had been born. And he proceeded to say, “Well, you’d better get on that right now before you forget exactly what it is!” No kidding, that’s what he said. So here’s a little teaser of what’s coming up next……….

Brown Sheep Company's 100% wool Lanaloft

Lanaloft wool

Isn’t he the best in making me sit and get this started? He’s my biggest motivator and supporter. It almost looks like a crown!

This will be the FIFTH in the Prairie Cable Series of handbags – and just a little bit smaller than the previous ones. Keep watching!

Oct 1 2011

“Steeples on the Plains” Handbag – It’s Journey

Progress, progress, progress! Not making much of a dent in my list for the weekend, but it really is okay. THIS handbag is complete and ready for someone to nab up. Here’s it’s little Saturday journey……

Have to have TYGERLILY embroidered ya know.

Everyone should have some backbone, don't you think? (awful photo color though)

Yes, my messy sewing area when the embroidery needs to get done.

... all the way to it's enjoying some fresh air on abandoned farmland.

The ‘team’ gave a big thumbs up on this one, which makes this base design something to consider doing again – just a different cable theme. We couldn’t have asked for it to work up any better than it did.

Thank you all again for traveling along this highway we have ourselves on – and there’s always surprises around the corner. GET CREATIVE and ENJOY! :)

Sep 25 2011

Season’s Royal Messenger Bag – A New Design

After looking at all the beautiful colors of bulky wool yarn sitting in my computer room and trying to decide exactly which one to design next, the amethyst color was speaking to me. Amethyst is the birthstone of our firstborn, a daughter, who we gave a unique name to: Season. She has and always will be a source of pride and joy for us. Season has turned into a strong woman, in her faith and in her life. Her own adult life has seen much tragedy, but her message of strength and love for life is abundantly clear. She is royalty not only in our hearts, but in God’s kingdom. Hence, the creation of a bag in her honor: Season’s Royal Messenger Bag.

Season's Royal Messenger Bag - A Beginning

This is only the beginning, and it is terribly boring looking right now. But the flap of a messenger bag is where the action is anyway, so the base will only have a single cable on each side and along the handle. I was so impressed at how the flap on the Steeple bag felted that having the same effect on the messenger bag strap will be perfect and strong. Here is it’s basic beginning, and the end of using up one hank of Brown Sheep Company’s Burly Spun Amethyst wool yarn. Appropriate to use a Nebraska yarn in honor of a Nebraska born and bred woman.

Side Panel View Showing Single Cable Twist

There is no lining picked yet for this, but it will probably be another type of corduroy so that items toted won’t get scratched or harmed. The size should be able to accommodate a laptop or even important binders or folders.

Hang with me during this boring part, and know that the flap is going to be chuck full of textures.

Today is also Season’s wedding anniversary to her high school sweetheart, and also the Walk to End Alzheimer’s here in Lincoln. ALZ’s signature color is purple. It’s all just very appropriate.

Sep 24 2011

Moonlit Prairie Trails Cable Handbag – TOTALLY Complete!

Introducing the “Moonlit Prairie Trails Cable Handbag” – the 2nd in the Prairie Series of original knitted handbags. It’s complete and ready for the store. Well, at least it will be after a write up is done and some decent pictures (yet again). This one is a little bigger than the “Prairie Land” bag. It also offers up a little different take on a zipper closure. Just big enough to get items in and out easily, yet secure. Yes, it’s a little different, but so are we. :) Here she is…..

Front pose......

Smiling Pretty...... all done up in Lamb's Pride Bulky

The lining is a pinwale corduroy in a steel gray. The zippered section was actually sewn on to the knitted bag by machine, but the lining itself was all hand stitched in place. There’s pockets on both sides. The one you don’t see is a double pocket so a cell phone would fit comfortably in it. The handles are satin and were purchased at Joann’s. The silver ‘moon’ flower was a bonus find somewhere else.

Thank goodness there is football on TV or I may not have gotten this far with it today! As I’m writing this it is halftime for the Cornhuskers and pizza rolls are being nuked. Now I can find some fun during the 2nd half starting the 4th bag in the Prairie Series….. But which color? They are ALL so beautiful! We’ll let that be a surprise.

Thank you for checking in – we love seeing you here.